Call for more resources to treat young offenders

Offender rehabilitation charity Nacro has called for more
funding for young offenders following a damning final annual report
by Sir David Ramsbotham, the outgoing chief inspector of
prisons.

His report on Feltham young offenders institution says: “Little
or nothing appears to have been done to resolve the very serious
failings in the treatment or conditions for young adult prisoners
aged 18-21.”

A Nacro spokesperson said the problems experienced in the unit
for 18-21 year old offenders -Êknown as Feltham B – could be
resolved if the prison service was given the necessary
resources.

He said: “The current state of the young adult provision at
Feltham B reinforces Nacro’s call for a new strategy for dealing
with this age group. The hallmark of this strategy would be a more
targeted use of prison, and some significant and sustained
investment in prison regimes.”

Ramsbotham’s report says: “I am entirely at a loss to know what
more I can do to draw attention to the wholly unacceptable
conditions in which young adult prisoners continue to be held.” It
adds that Feltham B should “no longer be allowed to operate as a
prison service-run young offender institution”.

His previous report on the unit said it failed to address the
needs of the 18-21 year old offenders, it was dirty, the
environment was not safe for young prisoners and the staff culture
was profoundly negative.

Ramsbotham is replaced by Ann Owers, the current director of the
human rights organisation Justice, this month.

Report on Feltham from www.homeoffice.gov.uk